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Central themes in Biblical theology: Mapping Unity In Diversity
A common approach to biblical theology is to examine the theology found in specific biblical books or authors, or in the individual Testaments. While this approach has value, the unity of the biblical message is sometimes missed. Since God is a unified being, we can expect his Word to have a unified message, though expressed in different ways at different times through history. This approach—a “Whole Bible Biblical Theology”—is taken in this collection of studies on seven key theological themes found in Scripture. Each essay, written by a respected evangelical scholar, seeks to discover the unified message of the whole Bible on a given topic. Here is profitable reading for pastors, teachers, and students.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2007
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About the author
Scott J. Hafemann
26 books3 followersScott J. Hafemann (DrTheol, Eberhard-Karls-Universitat Tubingen) is reader in New Testament studies at the University of St. Andrews. He is the author of numerous articles and of Paul, Moses, and the History of Israel; The God of Promise and the Life of Faith; Understanding the Heart of the Bible; and a commentary on 2 Corinthians. He is also the editor of Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 4, 2017
The editors of this volume do a great job setting out a vision for biblical theology – unitary and seeking to explain the relationship of God in the world. The key themes (covenant, the commands of God, atonement, the people of God, the servant of the Lord, the day of the Lord, and the history of redemption) will benefit everyone. It's also informative to see how these elite scholars vary their methodologies. For example, Paul House (Day of the Lord) moves canonically through the Law-Prophets-Writings-Gospels-Pauline letters-Catholic letters, focusing on key passages and synthesizing at the end. Elmer Martens (the people of God) aims for a synchronic synthetic analysis. Both are equally insightful. This volume will help students of every stripe and pastors grasp some of these key biblical ideas.
February 18, 2021
This collection represents some of the best of biblical theology. Highlights include the essays by Hafemann ("The Covenant Relationship"), Dempster ("The Servant of the Lord"), and Ciampa ("The History of Redemption").
December 30, 2015
The authors pursue ‘whole-Bible biblical theology’ across seven themes; that is, they believe the Bible is comprehensive and provides a consistent unified message in all its diversity. The seven themes chosen for this book are not deemed the most important, but are “a solid sample of key biblical ideas” (p16) nonetheless.
The seven themes and authors are as below:
The Covenant Relationship (Scott Hafemann)
The Commands of God (Thomas Schreiner)
The Atonement (Frank Thielman)
The Servant of the Lord (Stephen Dempster)
The Day of the Lord (Paul House)
The People of God (Elmer Martens)
The History of Redemption (Ray Ciampa)
In most chapters, the author traces his theme across the entire Biblical canon. For example, Theilman’s treatment of the atonement is divided into sections on the Old Testament, Pauline tradition, Petrine tradition (including the Gospel of Mark), Johannine tradition, and then Hebrews and Revelation. Paul House’s chapter on the Day of the Lord has sections on the Law, the Prohpets, the Writings, the Gospels, Paul’s Letters, and 1-2 Peter; with individual books discussed within their respective sections. The exception to this pattern is found in the final two chapters, which have a more thematic structure; however, even here, the development of the theme across the canon is traced.
Without disparaging the other chapters, I will discuss a few samples below.
Hafemann’s chapter on covenant was comprehensive in scope and helpful, especially in showing the importance of covenant for Paul; however, I was disappointed that the Davidic covenant was virtually ignored in his treatment, and was not convinced by his packaging of covenants together, such as subsuming the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants together under the “old covenant” (e.g. p29). I don’t think we have Scriptural warrant for conceiving of the covenants this way and Niehaus has rightfully and convincingly argued against “theologically constructed covenants” (PDF), within which the individual Biblical covenants belong. Schreiner, always clear, provides a sweeping overview of God’s commands in Scripture, concluding with seven digestible points. First, sinners are unable to faithfully keep God’s law. Second, covenant demands are not the basis for relationship, but the response to God’s redeeming work. Third, the New covenant is “superior” (p100) to the Old (Mosaic), as all members of the new covenant are forgiven and empowered by God to obey. Fourth, obedience and faith “may be distinguished, but should not be segregated from one another” (p101). Fifth, the Spirit empowers our obedience; both to will and to do. Sixth, the Mosaic covenant was temporary and is terminated with the coming of Christ. Seventh, while believers are not under the Old Covenant law, they are under the “Law of Christ”, which is built upon the teaching of Christ and His apostles and fulfills the intention of the law through love. Ciampa’s chapter is distinctive, examining different models for understanding God’s plan of redemption from 1,000 feet up and providing helpful charts for illustrating these approaches.
Though published in 2007, Central Themes in Biblical Theology is a valuable resource for those wanting to grasp a wide-view lens of Biblical teaching due to a stellar lineup discussing key Biblical themes. Even those who disagree with some of the specifics – perhaps Hafemann on covenant or Schreiner on Old Covenant Law – all can benefit from the examples of good whole-bible theology found here.
Mann thanks to IVP UK for kindly providing a review copy.
The seven themes and authors are as below:
The Covenant Relationship (Scott Hafemann)
The Commands of God (Thomas Schreiner)
The Atonement (Frank Thielman)
The Servant of the Lord (Stephen Dempster)
The Day of the Lord (Paul House)
The People of God (Elmer Martens)
The History of Redemption (Ray Ciampa)
In most chapters, the author traces his theme across the entire Biblical canon. For example, Theilman’s treatment of the atonement is divided into sections on the Old Testament, Pauline tradition, Petrine tradition (including the Gospel of Mark), Johannine tradition, and then Hebrews and Revelation. Paul House’s chapter on the Day of the Lord has sections on the Law, the Prohpets, the Writings, the Gospels, Paul’s Letters, and 1-2 Peter; with individual books discussed within their respective sections. The exception to this pattern is found in the final two chapters, which have a more thematic structure; however, even here, the development of the theme across the canon is traced.
Without disparaging the other chapters, I will discuss a few samples below.
Hafemann’s chapter on covenant was comprehensive in scope and helpful, especially in showing the importance of covenant for Paul; however, I was disappointed that the Davidic covenant was virtually ignored in his treatment, and was not convinced by his packaging of covenants together, such as subsuming the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants together under the “old covenant” (e.g. p29). I don’t think we have Scriptural warrant for conceiving of the covenants this way and Niehaus has rightfully and convincingly argued against “theologically constructed covenants” (PDF), within which the individual Biblical covenants belong. Schreiner, always clear, provides a sweeping overview of God’s commands in Scripture, concluding with seven digestible points. First, sinners are unable to faithfully keep God’s law. Second, covenant demands are not the basis for relationship, but the response to God’s redeeming work. Third, the New covenant is “superior” (p100) to the Old (Mosaic), as all members of the new covenant are forgiven and empowered by God to obey. Fourth, obedience and faith “may be distinguished, but should not be segregated from one another” (p101). Fifth, the Spirit empowers our obedience; both to will and to do. Sixth, the Mosaic covenant was temporary and is terminated with the coming of Christ. Seventh, while believers are not under the Old Covenant law, they are under the “Law of Christ”, which is built upon the teaching of Christ and His apostles and fulfills the intention of the law through love. Ciampa’s chapter is distinctive, examining different models for understanding God’s plan of redemption from 1,000 feet up and providing helpful charts for illustrating these approaches.
Though published in 2007, Central Themes in Biblical Theology is a valuable resource for those wanting to grasp a wide-view lens of Biblical teaching due to a stellar lineup discussing key Biblical themes. Even those who disagree with some of the specifics – perhaps Hafemann on covenant or Schreiner on Old Covenant Law – all can benefit from the examples of good whole-bible theology found here.
Mann thanks to IVP UK for kindly providing a review copy.
May 18, 2011
"The purpose of theology is doxology." -- Scott J. Hafemann
This is one of the most helpful books I have read in a long while. Precise in meaning, broadening in vision, provoking in thought. How are we to view the 66 books contained in the Bible as one continuous flow of thought from the revelatory God? Sure... redemptive history seems the most obvious answer, but isn't there more to it than that? Is that the only thing that unifies the Word of God? Hafemann and House think not--they've edited this book compiling two essays of their own with essays from other leading scholars:
Hafemann on the covenant relationship
Schreiner on the commands of God
Thielman on the atonement
Dempster on the servant of the Lord
House on the day of the Lord
Martens on the people of God
Ciampa on the history of redemption
Readers will not agree with every assertion made in the book, but the evidence contained therein will force such a reader to substantiate their own claims. Very helpful read, and necessary for an engaging theological mind.
This is one of the most helpful books I have read in a long while. Precise in meaning, broadening in vision, provoking in thought. How are we to view the 66 books contained in the Bible as one continuous flow of thought from the revelatory God? Sure... redemptive history seems the most obvious answer, but isn't there more to it than that? Is that the only thing that unifies the Word of God? Hafemann and House think not--they've edited this book compiling two essays of their own with essays from other leading scholars:
Hafemann on the covenant relationship
Schreiner on the commands of God
Thielman on the atonement
Dempster on the servant of the Lord
House on the day of the Lord
Martens on the people of God
Ciampa on the history of redemption
Readers will not agree with every assertion made in the book, but the evidence contained therein will force such a reader to substantiate their own claims. Very helpful read, and necessary for an engaging theological mind.
August 27, 2011
Made up of 7 articles describing different themes that run throughout the Bible from OT to NT, this book was helpful to me in learning more about biblical theology.
*Note: Although I read much of this book, I did not read the entire book. I only read what was required by my graduate school.*
*Note: Although I read much of this book, I did not read the entire book. I only read what was required by my graduate school.*
October 9, 2007
Good collection of essays tracing themes through the Bible. Examples of 'whole Bible' biblical theology.
June 15, 2008
So far Hafemann's views on Covenant are exactly what I thought they would be.... amazing.
June 22, 2013
For a collection of essays by different authors on a potentially enormous topic, this volume delivers significant, focused, quality work.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews